Until
August 2, 2012 I had only gone to a farmers market several times when I was
younger, leaving me with a slightly foggy memory of the experience. While
walking to the Bloomington Farmers Market, I was unsure of what to expect. The
end result was finding a place I would like to visit as many Saturday mornings
as possible.
Looking around the Market, what first
caught my attention was the food for sale. The center of the parking lot is
filled by four long structures that provide shade for the people selling their
products, such as soaps, vegetables, fruits, meat, maple syrup, flowers, and
even cheese. Surrounding these structures are small tents set up for individual
farms to sell their products. Many sell corn. One sold kettle corn, this tent had
the most noticeable difference of age groups as visitors, a conclusion can be
made that kettle corn is a favorite of people in any stage of life. The people
found shopping or browsing in these locations were predominantly pairs of
women, couples with very young children, and older couples. The people selling
most of the products were middle-aged women and young children; in some of the
sections, Amish women and children would be selling produce, and the men would
sell meat.
Moving to the outskirts of the market, there
was a band by the name of Blue Cut, which is a father, son, and daughter trio
from Bloomington. They played indie/folk music. When I was there, the daughter
was missing from the group, yet the talent was still noticeable. Across from
the band were several tents set up for a radio station, farm tours, and a naturalist
group. The naturalist group had a butterfly container, which attracted the
attention of many small children. Behind them were the steps leading to the
entrance of City Hall where Adopt a Puppy, a family favorite, was located and a
fountain where kids could be seen playing in the shade. Next to the fountain was
a tent set up with tables for tomato tasting, mostly visited by couples.
Along the side of the City Hall
building were more private tents, set up for farms selling produce-mostly corn
and vegetables, with one or two selling meat. This section varied in the age of
visitors. Farther down the line, at the end of the farmers market, were the
political and community event tents and booths. Groups ranged from Monroe
County Republic Women to a Build a Garden. There was also a booth for a local
children’s art program. Behind this section was another band playing what
sounded like jazz music surrounded by lawn chairs for sitting.
Across from the community section was a
small area filled with set ups for local restaurant and bakery businesses. The
focal point of this area was a statue in the middle, which provided some
seating under pillars which supported a bowl with a spoon giving off heat with
what looked like a fish on top surrounded by forks and knives--a symbol that
can be seen throughout the eateries of Bloomington. The age group seen
throughout this area was early to mid 20’s with few little children. It seemed
to be the place for people to come and simply enjoy the company of other
people. The music supply of this area was a man playing his banjo while a young
woman he was with sat beside him.
The Farmers Market is an area filled
with a diverse group of people who come to operate together in order to achieve
many goals, whether finding a way to support a family, finding somewhere to
spend time with your family in a pleasant environment, buying food, or even having
the experience of being there. The Farmers Market operates in a similar way to
participatory music, creating bonds with people through social interactions,
building a stronger community within a town. At the Farmers Market, even the
observers are a part of something more, listening to the music local artists
are performing. Supporting the artists encourages them to keep coming back.
Buying the food people are selling provides people with food to eat and also
provides people with money to pay for their necessities. The interactions people
make help one another; everyone is adding something to the experience of the
market.
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